Thames Valley Police Chief Oliver Perry Smith has been described as a “sexual predator” targeting women in vulnerable positions. The 38-year-old was sentenced to three years and six months in prison in Reading Crown court on Friday, the IOPC, the Independent Police Conduct Office (IOPC), said. Perry, who was at the Newbury police station, had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of misconduct in public office. He also pleaded guilty to charges of unauthorized access to computer hardware, in violation of the 1990 Computer Abuse Act. The IOPC found that Perry-Smith had a case to account for a gross misconduct in November 2019 and launched an investigation. He resigned from the Thames Valley police in February this year. The court was informed that between September 2014 and November 2019, Perry-Smith pursued six women after meeting them for his duties. He appears to have had sex with three of the women and tried to have sex with the others. The guard said he also searched the details of one of these women and a seventh woman in police computer systems – without police. The officer’s actions came to light in late 2019 when a woman called police and reported that Perry-Smith, who had previously attended her friend’s house, had later sent an obscene picture with a message. Image: Perry-Smith will be placed on the blocked list, preventing future employment with the police The guard found that the officer had also searched for details about her and her family on the police computer system. In another case, Perry-Smith used a police computer to identify a woman who was using her car license after parking next to her and watching her go to a store, the IOPC reported. The woman lodged a complaint with the IOPC after he was at her home for no police purpose and made personal comments about her appearance, even though she knew she was alone with a small child. IOPC Regional Director Graham Beesley paid tribute to all the women who bravely came to help with the research. “Sexual predator” He said: “Perry-Smith was a sexual predator and his behavior caused considerable anxiety to the women involved. “He was productive in abusing his position for five years and his actions were deliberate, deliberate, targeted and planned. “His actions were often to the detriment of his official police duties.” Senior Attorney Charles White of the Crown Prosecution Service said Perry-Smith had “taken advantage of his privileged position and access to police resources to pursue many women for several years.” He added that the officer had “abused his power, broken public confidence and made many women feel uncomfortable or insecure in their inappropriate pursuit”. The IOPC said the gross misconduct was found against Perry-Smith for violating police standards of professional conduct for authority, respect and courtesy. duties and responsibilities? honesty and integrity? and disparaging behavior. Perry-Smith will also be on the list of those excluded, preventing future employment in the police force, the guard said. Thames Valley Deputy Chief of Police Jason Hogg said the force took “strong action by referring his case to the Independent Police Behavior Bureau as well as conducting our own misconduct proceedings.” He added that he was “delighted” that Perry-Smith “had been brought to justice for his actions and was no longer a member of the Thames Valley police”.
